Today’s Yahrtzeits & History – 23 Nissan

Rav Moshe ben Yosef MiTrani, the Mabit (1505-1585). Son of Rav Yosef MiTrani (Mahait), Rav Moshe was born in Salonika, Greece. He was sent to sent to Adrianople (Italy) as a boy to pursue his studies under the supervision of his uncle Aaron. At the age of 16 he went to Safed and completed his studies under Yaakov Beirav. He was one of four people to receive the special semicha from him in 1538, in Safed, along with Rav Yosef Karo, Rav Moshe Cordovero, and Rav Yosef Sagis. In 1525 he was appointed rabbi at Safed; he held this office until 1535, when he moved to Jerusalem, where he lived until 1585. His main work was Kiryat Sefer, a commentary on Rambam’s Yad Chazakah. Hamabit, was an halachic responsa with 841 answers. He also wrote Beit Elo-him – a thematic discussion of the elements of prayer.

-Rav Yisrael Shalom Yosef of Bohush (a village south of Sarny and Klesiv, in the Ukraine)(1863-1923). One of his disciples, Rebbe Eliezer Zusia of Skulen (1898-1982), was the author of Noam Eliezer.

Today in History – 23 Nissan

· A fast-day was observed by the Jewish community of Cologne in commemoration of anti-Jewish violence during the Second Crusade, 1147.
· Portuguese Marranos who had reverted back to Judaism were burned to death in Ancona, Italy, 1556.
· A devastating earthquake struck San Francisco, followed by destructive fires; estimates of the final death toll were more than 3600, 1906.
· Jews were killed by Arabs in Jaffa, 1921.
· Haganah captured the strategic village of Katamon near Yerushalayim, 1948.